Comments, truths and public knowledge

by Archbishop Victor

A response to the false information published by SCOBA clergy

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Before we begin allow me to state the following: Ethnic groups caused a
Schism that continues today in American Orthodoxy and by these acts had removed
themselves as canonical or having any sacramental authority!

We are the one and only Orthodox Church in North America!

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Many in the Independent Movement have heard about us at some point. Some
claim their lines come from us, some claim our Charter was issued to them, and
some have even claimed they are us under a different name. On the internet you
can find all sorts of information - some true, some false and a lot of fairy
tales. To avoid all the junk that exists here is an outline about this Church.

The independent movement for the most part seems to exist for the title
seekers. They want to be in Holy Orders but do not want to have to follow orders
or directions so they want to be the "boss" over others. Many will ordain those
who have no vocational calling, education or temperment for the Holy Office.
There are some good active clergy in the independent movement but they are
independent clergy and not part of any historic Church.

We are the same Church that was chartered in 1927 and headed by Archbishop
Aftimios Ofiesh of blessed memory.

All the groups calling themself the "American Orthodox Catholic Church", our
short name, are not associated with us in any way. Others using similar names
like "American Orthodox Church" are also not associated with us.

A group that was started up after a few former clergy left our Church [called
a major internal Schism by some ethnic clergy] made false claims that they were
us under a different name, that the Metropolitan was the "former primate" of
their new group, and later certain rumors of a claim they excommunicated me was
traced back to them. All claims are proven false and documented on our website.
Many pages are no longer linked to the public but the information is still
available on request. Example: Clergy left this Church, one resigned in writing,
one by phone and another just walked away without a word. After they harassed us
the synod issued decrees against the 4 involved since they had in one way or
another been associated with us at one time and they violated the canons and
claimed they were us. This was not a major internal Schism, just some clergy
who wanted to do things as they saw fit and in an unorthodox manner

Today we have a Synod of well trained and educated individuals. One has over
25 years with the Byzantine Orthodox and continues to work on a doctorate
degree, another has numerous earned degrees including a Ph.D. Two are well
trained in the Byzantine liturgy. We have Chaplains who can offer the Tridentine
Latin Mass to Catholics on request. One who has retired from this Synod for
health reasons had been a Uniate mitred Archpriest.

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We were established as the American Orthodox Catholic Church on Feb. 2, 1927
by the Russian Synod (Moscow Patriarchate) in North America. We were
incorporated on Feb 1, 1928 and that corporation has never ceased.

The Ecumenical Patriarch at that time claimed he alone had the authority to
establish the Church in the New World (North America) and the ethnic orthodox in
communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch during that time began to ignore this
Church and clergy. This violated the canons! Since we were canonically
established and properly presented to the Orthodox community their refusal to
accept this Church as a sister Church was a violation of the Sacred and Divine
canons and the start of a Schism in American Orthodoxy. In 1929 the Greek
Archbishop, Alexander, in New York advised Abp. Ofiesh that he, Alexander, had
authority over all Orthodox in North America which was false and is the best
available date as to when the Schism became public.

Unlike the Roman Catholic Church one Patriarch does not rule over the other
Patriarch's as it appears their claim is and was and this claim continues today.
In the early Orthodox communion Rome was the first among equals which is the
position that the Ecumenical Patriarch claims today. We accept and acknowledge
this fact!

The Ecumenical Patriarch recently was stated to be the head of all the
Orthodox worldwide. This is a false claim and even the Russian Partiarch spoke
up about this claim and refuted the claim. The Ecumenical Patriarch is referred
to as "First among equals" but since this Church was established it appears
these individuals want to be more than they are.

The Greeks want to be the American Church, the Antiochians want to be the
American Church and the OCA believes they are the American Church but they are
not. There is only one true America Orthodox Church and that is us, "The Holy
Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in North America", known as
THEOCACNA and our short name is "The American Orthodox Catholic Church" which we
do not use much since numerous others claim this name.

Clergy from these various groups (named above) have written books about this
Church and clergy and today they continue to publish information about us that
for the most part is false. They write about our former clergy in a defamatory
and unchristian manner which we will no longer tolerate.

We will not seek communion with Schismatic groups!

We do not recognize any sacramental authority within these groups!

We do not seek or need any recognition by these groups!

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We are canonical!

Canonical does not mean you must be in communion with someone! It means we
follow Holy Scripture, the Orthodox Canons and Orthodox Traditions. It does not
mean we must wear a certain vestment style, offer a certain liturgy share the
Mysteries (Sacraments) with a specific group especially when that and other
groups have violated the Canons for about 80 years, attacked this Church and
clergy, tried to end this Church, proclaimed the Church does not legally or
morally exist, and continue to act in an unchristian manner against this Church.

We are recognized by the Roman Catholic Church!

We are recognized by the Episcopal Church USA!

We are recognized by a number of independent Churches!

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The main focus of the attack on this Church dates to April 1933 when
Archbishop Ofiesh married in a civil ceremony.

According to newspaper reports Bishop Sophonius congratulated the couple on
their marriage and Bishop's Joseph and Ignatius are said to have stated the
canon on married bishops, not adopted by all orthodox churches, had no bearing
on the American Church.

The ethnic claim Sophronius, who was reburied next to St. Raphael, supposedly
suspended the Archbishop and then they claim the other bishops decided to elect
a new leader (not Sophronius) then claim Sophronius was the Archbishops
successor - all undocumented and false.

The ethnic also claim Archbishop Ofiesh deposed himself by his marriage or
retired! This is false. The canons does not automatically depose for such a
marriage, it states "Let him be deposed" but since the Archbishop's Synod did
not object to his marriage within this Church and since no Tribunal was ever
called no such action was ever taken against Abp. Ofiesh.

Since the Antiochian Metropolitan allowed a priest to remarry and remain a
priest, contrary to the Canons, it cannot be just, fair or christian to continue
to "attack" Archbishop Ofiesh who died in 1966.

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These so called ethnic clergy are from SCOBA churches and these Churches were
and are party to the Schism in American Orthodoxy! Those who pray in these
Churches are denying themselves the full "Mysteries of the Church". This claim
is based on the canons stating Schismatic clergy should be deposed and when the
whole Church follows the schismatic leaders they cannot offer a valid Mystery
when in fact they violated the canons and acted to cause harm to other true
canonical orthodox clergy & laity. By such acts the Schismatics set
themselves apart from the true Church and the canons. Since by these acts they
failed to follow the canons, act in an unchristian manner, defame just clergy
and do so much more that sets them outside and apart from the canons they can no
longer be canonical!

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Schism needs to end!

Until their is repentance by the Schismatic groups and they make peace
with this Church they will continue to mislead their members.

Today this Church is the American Orthodox Patriarchate! Our canonial
jurisdiction, or Archdiocese, is North America and our Mission territory is
Central and South America. Since the ethnic jurisdictions have worked their way
into our canonical jurisdiction we accept the fact people want orthodoxy in
other countries and contact us to establish missions and churches. We are
growing in many such areas.

THEOCACNA is not attempting to follow in the footsteps of the Schismatic
(ethnic) Orthodox who have poor christian manners, lack christian charity and
defame deceased Orthodox clergy but we seek to follow in the footsteps of our
Lord, to show Christian Charity to people of all faiths and to help when we can.

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We may very well over state our position. My statement about the sacraments
may be overly catholic at this point.

One purpose is to get peoples attention! What do the canons say about
schismatic church groups and clergy? The laity who reads this page could be
somewhat upset by what they read. I am inclined to believe they will investigate
independently - like searching online for canons, getting a copy of the Rudder,
book or a CD, and contacting others in the know like Church historians and
asking if the acts by the ethnic pre-scoba orthodox could be viewed as an act of
Schism! When they find out we speak the truth they will continue their search
for the truth!

The canons basically speak of a case like that of former clergy of this
Church who left contrary to the canons. What we are saying is the larger Church
community as a whole acted in a Schismatic manner against the American Church
based in part on the statement in the canons "...without finding anything wrong
with the Bishop in point of piety and righteousness". They acted from the time
this church was established, in 1929 it became a public matter, and all the time
they had no cause against Aftimios. In 1927 he was a canonical orthodox bishop
in good standing but he was attacked, ignored, defamed and much more over the
years.

In their defense the ethnic continue to write today that all the problems of
this Church came from his marriage - 5 years later. Did they read Tarot cards or
use a Crystal ball to know he would violate the canons? or did they feel if they
pushed hard enough something would go wrong!